Maitland City Council will now call for a review of a gateway determination for Edward Street, Morpeth by the Joint Regional Planning Panel.

The decision, made at a council meeting last night, follows a Department of Planning and Environment decision to refuse the gateway determination to permit seniors’ housing as an additional permitted use in Edward Street. In a report, council officers said the reasons for the refusal are that the proposal is inconsistent with the heritage values of Morpeth.

Councillors voted seven votes to four in favour of a review. Mayor Peter Blackmore and deputy mayor Bob Geoghegan declared an interest and did not vote.